Shade roller winding device



Dec. 12, 1950 v. A. HAWKINS SHADE ROLLER WINDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1946 mm m K a m m mm m A r m@ ww Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED sTATss PATNT rrise SHAME BOLLER WINDING DEVE'JE Victor lir. Hawhins, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Appiieation January 22, 19426, Serial No. %2,759

l Ciam.

This invention reiates te devices for the winding of the spring of a window ha-de roiier when the same has lost its winding tension.

shade rollers of the spring actuated type provided with a ratchet for arresting winding of the roller by the tension ef the spring frequently lose their winding tension due to th siippage of the ratchet and from natural loss of tension strength of the spring due to wear. In such event it is the practice of hcusewives and oth rs to remove the shade roller from its supporting brackets and grasp the squared end of the roller pintie between the thumb and forefinger and inipart a turning movement thereto to rewind the spring. such method of rewinding the spring is tedious and dangerous for it is diihcuit to obtain a firm grip on the roller pintie and after a tension is built up in the spring the fingers of the operator may slip and should the ratchet not catch, the operator's fingers may be injured. Therefore, the principal object of this invention is to provide a device which may be fitted into the square winding pintle of a shade roller for facilitating the easy and safe Winding of the spring when the tension suflicient to actuate the roller has become a spent.

Another feature of the invention resides in a Winding key for window shade roliers in which the manipulating member thereof is offset with respect to roller pintle connection so as to provide leverage during a winding operation.

Other features of the invention are to provide a shade roller winding device which is simple and inexpensive of Construction, easy to apply and remove from the winding pintle of a shade roller, and capable of being stored away in a small space when not in use.

Other novel features of the invention will become apparent as the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the winding device appiied to the winding pintle of a conventional window shade roller.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the winding device per se.

Figure 3 is an edge elevational view.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters the numeral i@ designates my window shade spring winding device in its entirety which is preferably constructed of metal and includes a rigid disk-like body H having a relatively short arm l2 integral therewith and extending at right angle from one fiat side of said body at a portion of the peripheral edge thereof. The fiat body ll constitutes a finger manipulating portion which may be grasped between the thumb and forenger of the hand of a user. The arm !2 is provided with a rectangular shaped slot !3, the length of which is parallel to the adjacent flat face of the body ll. The slot 13 is of a size to freeiy fit upon the flat pintie i i of a conventional shade roller iii on which a shade !6 is windable. This pintle i i is connected to the spring winding shaft i? of the roller !5 and which shaft is held against unwinding by the tension of the spring by a ratchet i 8.

In practice, assume that the window shade roller !5 has lost its spring tension and i unable to impart a winding of the shade it upon the roller. The shade and roller are removed from their normal supporting brackets and the device I ll is applied to the pintle Hi by inserting the pintie through the slot it. The operator now grasps the flat manipulating portion li between the thumb and forefinger of the hand and proceeds to turn the device about the axis of the shaft H', the ratchet I@ acting to prevent any unwindng during any brief pause during the complete winding operation. When the roller actuating spring has been wound to the proper tension, the device !u is withdrawn from its engagement with the pintle M and the roller and shade replaced upon its hanger brackets.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that I have provided a simple and inexpensive winding device which may be kept handy in a household for use in winding the spring of a conventional shade roller to restore lost tension therein, thus eliminating the danger of injury by direct winding with one's fingers, or by the use 'of pliers or other unappropriate make-Shift devices.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes in Construction, material, and design as come within the scope of the appended claim may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth therein.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A device for Operating th spring-winding pintle of a shade roller to effect a winding of the spring in said roller, oomprising a disk-shaped body, and a fixed lug on the body and extending outward from one face adjacent the periphery thereof, said lug having rectangular opening therethrough with opposite parallel inner faces, to engage said pintle, the length of the opening being Parallel to the body.

VICTOR. A. HAWKINS.

REFEBENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 900,'741 Kerr Oct. 13, 1908 919,566 Fox Apr. 27, 1909 1,568,312 Booker Jan. 5, 1926 23493387 Selberg May 30, 1944 

